ATLANTA — Walt Emmer, president and CEO of Waffle House and a trustee of the Atlanta Police Foundation, has died at age 58, the foundation announced Sunday.
According to his alma mater, Georgia Tech, Emmer joined Waffle House in 1992 and quickly rose through the ranks to become a senior executive, becoming the company’s president in 2002 and later taking on the titles of CEO and chairman.
“His leadership, dedication and warmth touched so many lives, both within and outside the Waffle House family. He leaves behind an incredible legacy,” Mayor Andre Dickens said in a news release.
Waffle House’s board of directors released a statement Sunday afternoon announcing that Emmer passed away after a long illness. “He will be greatly missed by the entire Waffle House family,” the statement said.
Emmer served as chair of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association Board of Directors from 2012-2013 and has served on numerous organizations, including the Georgia Tech Foundation Board of Trustees and the Georgia Tech Advisory Council.
The 24-hour restaurant chain Waffle House opened in 1955 and now operates more than 1,900 locations in 25 states.
Emmer is survived by his three children, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.